Net loss: Jefferson done for season

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) – New Jersey Nets forward Richard
Jefferson is expected to miss the remainder of the 2004-05 season with a
severe wrist injury.

Jefferson, who signed a contract extension with the Nets in August, has a
ruptured ligament in his left wrist and is expected to undergo surgery in the
near future.

“It’s basically a four-month rehab, so he will be out the rest of the season,”
said Nets president Rod Thorn in a conference call Tuesday. “Obviously, this
is a blow for us.”

The 6-7 swingman apparently suffered the injury on December 27 against Detroit
when Pistons guard Chauncey Billups committed a flagrant foul. He played
through the injury, but aggravated it during a game last week against the
Milwaukee Bucks.

In 33 games this season, Jefferson is averaging 22.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and
4.0 assists per contest.

The Arizona product started all 82 regular-season games last season for the
Nets and averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.

He was selected in the first round (13th overall) of the 2001 draft by the
Houston Rockets. New Jersey then acquired Jefferson’s draft rights from
Houston, along with the draft rights to Jason Collins, and Brandon
Armstrong in exchange for the draft rights to Eddie Griffin.